Sexual Health: I like my OB-GYN, but she's not board certified. Should I worry?

Jun 6, 2007

I like my OB-GYN, but she's not board certified. Should I worry?

Not necessarily -- but you need to find out why she's not. Although some physicians who aren't certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) may be excellent, certification ensures that your doc is appropriately qualified, says Gerson Weiss, M.D., president of the ABOG. Board requirements include a four-year residency and an oral and written exam, as well as practice in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Don't be afraid to ask your gyno why she isn't certified. It could be because she is so new to the field that she doesn't have a sufficient case practice yet or that she trained in a foreign country and has incomplete qualifications by American standards but fully intends to earn her certification. If your gyno didn't pass the exams, didn't take them, or hasn't completed the required training or if her certification has expired and she has not been retested (medical school grads after 1986 have to be recertified every 10 years), that's a red flag.

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